Explore the science of the South Pole at IceCube Day! Meet real researchers who worked at the South Pole uncovering the mysteries of neutrinos, currently theorized to be the smallest particle in existence.

Researchers from two Wisconsin institutions, UW-Madison and UW-River Falls, have played a major role in the construction and management of one of the world’s largest, most interesting science endeavors of this century: The IceCube Neutrino Observatory, located at the South Pole in Antarctica. During IceCube Day, members of this crew will be at MPM to demonstrate how the IceCube telescope works, as well as answer questions about ice drilling, neutrino astronomy, and what it’s like to work at the South Pole, one of the harshest environments in the world.

In the evening, they will be joined by Dr. James Madsen, Chair, UW-River Falls, Physics, for a lecture on the IceCube Neutrino Observatory. Attendees at the lecture will also see special preview clips of a show currently being produced by MPM’s theater staff about the IceCube telescope, tentatively titled Ghost Catchers: A Cosmic Detective Story from the South Pole. This film will be showing at the Daniel M. Soref National Geographic Dome Theater and Planetarium in Fall 2013.

Schedule of Events:

10 a.m. – 3 p.m., and 6 – 7 p.m. –South Pole Science Demonstrations: IceCube Researchers will have display tables set up in the Museum Atrium where visitors can take to them about subjects such as ice drilling, neutrino astronomy, and what it’s like to work at the South Pole. These science demonstrations are appropriate for all ages and will give children and adults an opportunity to try hands-on activities and interact directly with South Pole staff and physics researchers.

7:30 p.m. – Planetarium Show Preview: See highlights of the new planetarium show about this ambitious project that is being produced by MPM. The working title of the show is Ghost Catchers: A Cosmic Detective Story from the South Pole, and it is scheduled to begin showing at the Daniel M. Soref National Geographic Dome Theater and Planetarium in Fall 2013.

IceCube Day events are being co-sponsored by the Wisconsin IceCube Particle Astrophysics Center (WIPAC), a University of Wisconsin – Madison research center, and are part of a statewide education program funded by the Ira and Ineva Reilly Baldwin Wisconsin Idea Endowment Foundation. IceCube is a National Science Foundation project.